WASHINGTON – Patrick Cudahy of Cudahy, Wis. is recalling about 3,590 pounds of bacon bit products on concerns it may contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said Saturday.

The agency said that the following products are being recalled:

10-pound cases of "Golden Crisp APPLEWOOD SMOKED PRECOOKED BACON TOPPINGS." The products bear the establishment number "EST. 28" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a printed Julian date of "8318."

10-pound cases of "John Morrell APPLEWOOD SMOKED PRECOOKED BACON TOPPINGS." The products bear the establishment number "EST. 28" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a printed Julian date of "8318."

The bacon bits were produced on Nov. 13, 2008, and were sent to restaurants and institutional foodservice businesses in California, Colorado, Florida, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.

The problem was found by in-house testing by a company receiving the product, according to the FSIS. There have been no reports of illness related to the bacon bits.

Source: Food Safety and Inspection Service

DENVER – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) on Saturday announced Forrest L. Roberts will be the next chief executive officer of the organization.

Roberts will start the job on Jan. 20.

“We are thrilled Forrest will be joining us as CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. We are certain Forrest brings the right experience, vision and optimism to lead the nation’s oldest, largest and most respected cattle organization,” said Andy Groseta, NCBA president.

Roberts has reportedly held several marketing and sales positions in two animal health companies. He started with Upjohn Animal Health in 1992, and he remained with the company through its two mergers to Pharmacia Animal Health and later Pfizer Animal Health. In 2004, he left Pfizer to join Elanco Animal Health where he most recently served as the marketing manager for Elanco’s Beef Business Unit.

He has also been a member of NCBA’s executive committee, board of directors, allied industry council, long-range planning committee and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation board of trustees.

“My roots, my education, my passion, my career – they’re all linked to the cattle industry. I can think of no greater honor than to be CEO of NCBA,” said Roberts.

Terry Stokes stepped down as NCBA’s CEO in September, after serving for nearly seven years. Stokes has stayed on in the role during the search and will work with Roberts through the end of January.

Source: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

TULSA, Okla. – A federal appeals court has agreed to hear arguments in Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson's effort to stop poultry producers from spreading bird waste in the Illinois River watershed.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver last week granted a request to expedite an appeal of an Oklahoma judge’s ruling to deny an injunction in the case.

Edmondson reportedly sued 13 Arkansas-based poultry companies in 2005, claiming that they were polluting Oklahoma waters by giving poultry waste to area farmers to use as fertilizer. The poultry companies, which include Tyson Foods Inc., have disputed the claim.

The poultry producers have told media outlets that the manure and natural bedding material has been used as natural fertilizer for decades and state officials haven't anyone who has had health concerns because of the practice.

Source: Associated Press